Seed hopper and routing structure for varying material delivery to row units

ABSTRACT

Left and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on opposite sides of the centerline of a seeding machine provide an operator access area between the hoppers. A third hopper located forwardly of and between the two main hoppers has a capacity less than that of each of the main hoppers for refuge or male seed. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivity. In one embodiment, first and second hoppers communicate with downstream conduit structure, and valve structure selects one or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material. The valve structure can be operated remotely and can be map based. Alternatively, selectively blockable nozzle structure is located in the first and second hoppers. Easily changeable connector structure facilitates row pattern selection and hose routing.

This document (including all drawings) claims priority based on U.S.application Ser. No. 11/116,716, filed Apr. 28, 2005, and entitled, SEEDHOPPER AND ROUTING STRUCTURE FOR VARYING MATERIAL DELIVERY TO ROW UNITSunder 35 U.S.C. 119(e).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to agricultural seedingimplements and, more specifically, to structure for dispensing differenttypes of seed and the like to planter or seeding row units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous seeding implements are available for delivering seed from oneor more central hoppers to individual row units. The individual rowunits may include a small hopper for automatic seed on demand refilling.When planting seed, certain agronomic benefits are available by changingseed varieties for a given row. For example, when planting seed corn theability to easily select and change the pattern of rows for the male andfemale varieties can be highly advantageous. Many currently availablebulk seed hopper systems are not readily compatible with plantingpractices utilizing two or more different seed hybrids.

Variety selection for the rows of a seeding implement is alsoadvantageous for operations utilizing genetically modified seed.Planting of a refuge seed is often required when planting thegenetically modified seed. A percentage of non-transgenic seed istypically planted with an insect transgenic seed to delay onset ofresistance development. Regulatory agencies such as the USDA and EPAprefer the refuge crop be planted with a non-transgenic crop as a blockseparate and apart from the recombinant crops. Operators are required topurchase the regulatory amount of non-recombinant seed required forrefuge along with any recombinant seed purchase. The percentage ofrefuge crop planted can vary from a small amount up to 20% or more ofthe total crop, depending on the type of crop plant subject toregulatory requirements and the amount of insect pressure expected for aparticular geographic location. Although refuge for insect resistanthybrids can be planted adjacent the resistant crop or even in anadjacent field, effectiveness of the refuge increases if the refuge isplanted in strips in the same field as the insect resistant variety.

In some fields, it may be desirable to vary the row location and/orpercentage of refuge crop or other variety planted from one area toanother. When a circle irrigated field is planted, for example, varyingseed varieties can improve drought resistance for non-irrigated regions.Also, ability to change seed varieties within a field to improve pest ormold resistance can be highly advantageous. Changing varieties on the goor with little downtime has been difficult or impossible with manycurrently available seeding implements such as those with seed on demanddelivery systems. As map-based farming practices become increasinglypopular, the need for improved variety control for such delivery systemsbecomes more evident.

If the crop harvested from the genetically modified seed is to beseparated from the crop harvested from the refuge seed, a different rowpattern may need to be employed to accommodate harvester headerconfiguration than if the crops are not to be segregated at harvest.Some farmers leave one unplanted row of crop approximately every sixtyfeet or other desired spacing to act as a row marker for spraying. Theset-up of the planter or seeding implement for proper variety control,refuge percentage control, row spacing, marker row spacing and/ormale-female seed row configuration can be very time-consuming. Toachieve various row patterns, delivery lines to certain row units mustbe blocked or rerouted. Placement of hoppers for conveniently loadingtwo or more materials while maintaining acceptable load distribution onthe seeding implement with fully loaded hoppers is also a continuingsource of difficulty. Loading of some of the seed varieties by hand frombags while bulk loading other varieties is not uncommon. Therefore,convenient access must be provided for both bulk filling and manualfilling. It is also desirable to maximize use of individual hoppercapacity to lessen the number of hopper reloading operations required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved seed hopper and routing structure for a seeding implement. Itis another object to provide such a structure which overcomes most orall of the aforementioned problems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide hopper androuting structure for a seeding implement providing advantages of bulkseed hoppers with versatility of planting two or more seed hybrids. Itis another object to provide such structure which facilitates reroutingor blocking of material delivery to row units to most efficientlyutilize hopper capacity, optimize control of seed variety, refugepercentage and location, and row spacing for different seeding materialsand field conditions. It is another object to provide such a structurewherein seed varieties and seed routing can be changed quickly or, ifdesired, on the go.

It is still another object to provide hopper structure accommodating upto three different seeding materials and having better access and weightdistribution characteristics than many previously available hopperstructures. It is another object to provide hose structure for use withthe hopper structure to facilitate changes in seed hose routing andoptimize use of hopper capacity.

A seeding implement includes a transversely extending main frame withleft and right main hoppers offset laterally from each other on oppositesides of the centerline of the machine to provide an operator accessarea between the hoppers. A third hopper is located forwardly of andbetween the two main hoppers and has a capacity less than that of eachof the main hoppers. The third hopper is conveniently located adjacentthe forward end of the operator accesses area and is ideal for refuge ormale seed, or the like. The hoppers are sized to maximize productivityand are particularly useful for planting male-female seed corn orproviding a desired pattern of refuge crop. For example, a 20-30-50%tank capacity or similar combination fits seed corn plantingrequirements since most popular seed corn planting configurations are20% male rows and 80% female rows. In addition, the system also matchestypical refuge planting requirements of 20%.

In an embodiment of the invention, first and second hoppers, each hoppercontaining material to be delivered to the soil, communicate withdownstream conduit structure extending towards the distributing unit andwith a source of air upstream of the hoppers. Valve structure selectsone or the other of the first and second hoppers for delivery of thematerial. In one configuration, a directional control air valve isconnected upstream of the first and second hoppers and is controlled todeliver material pickup air to a nozzle in the selected one of thehoppers. In a second configuration, the valve structure includes an airand seed valve connected to the conduit structure downstream of thefirst and second hoppers to allow material from the selected hopper toflow while blocking material from the non-selected hopper. A thirdconfiguration includes selectively blockable nozzle structure located inthe first and second hoppers, the nozzle structure facilitating pickupof material from the hoppers when unblocked and preventing pickup ofmaterial when blocked. A simple clip may be placed over the nozzle forblocking flow.

Easily changeable hose routing structure optimizes hose routing andprovides desired row patterns and selectable hopper and row blocking. Inan embodiment shown, a connector includes a selectively attachable cappreventing material flow through one or more of the conduits. Theconnectors comprises first and second mating portions for easyinterchangeability. A cap is connectible in series between the portionsto block material when flow from a particular hopper or to a particularrow is to be discontinued. For dividing flow from one conduit orcombining flow from two conduits into one, a Y-shaped connector isprovided having first and second branches, each connectible to aselected one of the conduits. Cap structure is connectible in seriesbetween a branch and the associated conduit for selectively blockingflow when necessary for the desired row pattern.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from thedescription below taken in view of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seeding implement with seed hopper androuting structure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hopper structure and access structure forthe implement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a hose coupler and associated hose cap shown ina disassembled condition.

FIG. 4 is a view of the hose coupler of FIG. 3 shown without the cap andconnected for transferring seed or other material.

FIG. 5 is a view of the hose coupler of FIG. 3 with the cap connected toblock material flow.

FIG. 6 is a view of a Y-connector with one of the branches of the Ycapped to prevent material flow and the remaining branch connected fortransferring material.

FIG. 7 is a view of a system for selectively delivering one of twomaterials to a row and including an upstream selection valve system.

FIG. 8 is a view of a system similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing adownstream selection valve system.

FIG. 9 is a view of a serial delivery system for selectively deliveringmaterial from one of two hoppers to a row.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but showing the systemdelivering material from the other of the hoppers.

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the seeding implement showingseed hopper connections and routing structure for a row configurationwherein material from a central tank is directed to rows spaced acrossthe width of the machine.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation similar to that of FIG. 11 butshowing a routing structure for banding the material from the centraltank.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of another routing structurewherein one of the hoppers is blocked from delivery of material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown a seeding implement 40including a transversely extending main frame 42 supported for forwardmovement over the ground by lift wheel assemblies 44. A hitch 46projects forwardly from the main frame 42 generally along a fore-and-aftmachine centerline and includes a hitch connection 48 adapted forconnection to a tractor or other towing vehicle (not shown). The frame42 supports a plurality of transversely spaced row units or tools 50connected through conduit structure 52 hopper structure 54 supportedadjacent the hitch 46. One or more materials such as seed is deliveredthrough the conduit structure 52 from the hopper structure 54 to the rowunits 50 for delivery to the soil. The row units 50 include meterhousings or mini-hoppers 60 for receiving seed from the conduitstructure 52. A seed on demand or similar system may be used to maintainthe desired level of seed in the housings or hoppers 60.

The hopper structure 54 includes left and right hoppers 62 and 64 offsetlaterally from each other on opposite sides of the machine centerlineand a central hopper 66 located between and forwardly of the left andright hoppers 62 and 64 over the hitch 46. An operator accesses area 70is defined between hoppers 62 and 64 rearwardly adjacent the hopper 66.As shown, the central hopper 66 typically serves as a refuge or maleseed hopper and has a capacity substantially less than the capacity ofthe hoppers 62 and 64. The percentage of total system hopper capacity ofthe hopper 66 is equal to or approximates the percentage of refuge ormale seed planted in a seeding operation. For example, for planting a20% refuge or male seed, the ideal capacity of the hopper 66 will beapproximately 20% of the total hopper system capacity.

The conduit structure 52 communicates with the hopper structure 54 andincludes individual conduit sections 72 and 74 selectively attachable tointerconnect the hoppers 62, 64 and 66 to predetermined row units 50 forthe desired delivery pattern. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, eachconduit section 72 includes a male portion 82 of a bayonet connection,and the section 74 includes a female portion 84 for receiving theportion 82. Identical bayonet portions 82 and 84 may be used for anumber or all of the sections 72 and 74 to provide interchangeableconnections for a large variety of possible combinations of hose routingconnections.

A conduit blocking cap 90 includes a male bayonet portion 92 for receiptby the portion 84 on the section 74. An opposite female bayonet portion94 receives the male portion 82 of the conduit section 72. Whenconnected as shown in FIG. 5, the cap 90 seals and block flow throughthe connector ends of both the sections 72 and 74 and provides mutualsupport of the ends. Alternatively, the cap 90 may be used to block oneof the sections 72 and 74 with the remaining section removed, reroutedor stored in a different location.

Further conduit routing flexibility is provided with a Y-connector ormulti-connector 100 having a first end 102 connected to one of theconduit sections, such as section 72 as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality ofdivergent branches 104 and 106 having female bayonet connection ends 108and 110, respectively, adapted for receiving male bayonet connectingends 112 of conduit sections 72′. If blocking of one of the branches isnecessary for the desired hose routing arrangement, the cap 90 can beconnected as shown on the branch 104 in FIG. 6. If a correspondingsection 72′ is available and unused adjacent the Y-connector 100, thatsection can be supported and the connecting end 112 sealed by insertingthe end into the female end of the cap 90.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, examples of systems for delivery of materialfrom first and second hoppers 162 and 164 are shown. The hoppers 162 and164 can contain two different types of material such as, for example,genetically modified seed and refuge seed, or female and male seed corn.Downstream conduit structure 72 is shown extending from the hoppers 162and 164 towards the distributing units. Upstream conduit structure 172and 174 (FIGS. 7 and 8) is connected to a source of air and to the firstand second hoppers 162 and 164. Valve structure 178 or 178′ selects oneof the first and second hoppers for delivery of the material to thesoil.

As shown in FIG. 7, the valve structure 178 is located upstream of thehoppers and includes an air inlet 180 and air outlets 182 and 184connected to the conduit section 172 and 174, respectively, which inturn are connected to material pick-up nozzles 192 and 194. The valvestructure 178 is switchable to direct air either to the conduit section172 or 174. When air is directed to the conduit section 172, air supplyto the section 174 is cut off, and a venturi effect created at thenozzle 192 causes material from the hopper 162 to be picked up by thenozzle and directed to a Y-connector 100 communicating with the conduitstructure 72. Switching the valve 178 causes air to be shut off from thesection 172 delivered through the conduit section 174 to the nozzle 194so that material from the hopper 164 is delivered to the conduitstructure 72. A remote or automatic switching control 200 is connectedto the valve structure 178 to provide remote operation of the valve. Thecontrol 200 can be a map-based switching control to provide automaticoperation based on field location and desired material delivery to thesoil. The control 200 can, for example, automatically vary seedvarieties based on location to improve drought resistance for dryregions of a field, or change seed varieties within the field to improvepest or mold resistance where necessary.

A second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 includes air and seed valvestructure 178′ connected downstream of the first and second hoppers 162and 164. Air supply sections 172 and 174 are connected to the inlets ofthe nozzles 192 and 194. When the valve structure 178′ is switched toopen the outlet of the nozzle 192 to the conduit structure 72, materialis picked up in the hopper 162 and delivered to the row while materialfrom the hopper 164 is blocked. Switching the structure 178′ opens theoutlet of the nozzle 194 to the conduit structure 72 to pick up materialfrom hopper 164 and blocks material from the hopper 162. The automaticswitching control 200 can be connected to the valve structure 178′ toprovide remote operation of the valve similar to that described abovefor the valve structure 178.

In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the valve structureincludes selectively blockable and unblockable nozzle structures 192′and 194′ located in the first and second hoppers 162 and 164 andconnected in series between an air supply section 174′ and the deliveryconduit structure 72. A snap-on cap 210 can be clipped or unclipped froma selected nozzle structure. The nozzle structures facilitate pickup ofmaterial from a hopper when upcapped (see 192′ of FIGS. 9 and 194′ ofFIG. 10) and prevent pickup of material when capped (see 194′ of FIGS. 9and 192′ of FIG. 10). The series connection provides simplified hoserouting. Automatic capping and uncapping can also be provided throughslide or rotating valve structure located in the hopper connected to thecontrol 200 to provide remote selection or to remotely control theselection operation based on a map.

The operator access area 70 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a platform 270providing convenient access to the central hopper 66. Often, refuge cropor male seed corn is loaded by hand from bags, and the access area 70facilitates the loading process. Steps 272 with hand rails 274 extendrearwardly from the platform 270 to the rear of the implement 40.

Examples of various row patterns for a 36 row machine utilizing theabove-described hopper and routing structure are shown in FIGS. 11-13.FIG. 11 is an example of providing a single row (rows 1, 6, 11, 16, 21,26, 31 and 36) of material such as refuge seed or male seed corn fromthe hopper 66 between multiple rows (2-5, 7-10, 12-15, 17-20, 22-25,27-30, and 32-35) of other seed from the hoppers 62 and 64. FIG. 12provides an example of banding eight rows of refuge or other seed incentral rows 15-22 while providing a different variety of seed from thehopper 62 for rows 1-14, and yet another variety from the hopper 64 forthe rows 23-36. An example of a routing arrangement wherein materialfrom the male or refuge seed hopper 66 is not required for an area ofthe field being planted is shown in FIG. 13. The hopper and conduitstructure and remote or automatic map based control utilizing the valveor capping structure and controller 200 described above or a similarautomatic arrangement helps optimize hose routing and convenientlyprovides desired row patterns and selectable hopper and row blocking,on-the-go if desired.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. In an agricultural seeder adapted for forwardmovement over soil and having a transversely extending frame, the framesupporting distributing units for depositing one or more materials inthe soil, material hopper and routing structure comprising: a pluralityof hoppers containing at least two different materials; a plurality ofconduits connected to the distributing units; and means communicatingthe conduits with the hoppers for delivering the material in the hoppersto preselected distributing units to provide a selected row deliverypattern in the soil.
 11. The material hopper and routing structure setforth in claim 10 wherein the means communicating the conduits comprisesa connector having a selectively attachable cap preventing material flowthrough one or more of the conduits.
 12. The material hopper and routingstructure set forth in claim 11 wherein the connector comprises firstand second mating portions, and wherein the cap is connectible in seriesbetween the portions to prevent the material flow.
 13. The materialhopper and routing structure set forth in claim 10 wherein the meanscommunicating the conduits includes a Y-shaped connector portion havingfirst and second branches connectible to a selected one of the conduits,and cap structure for selectively blocking one of the branches.
 14. Thematerial hopper and routing structure set forth in claim 13 wherein thecap structure is connectible in series with one of the branches and theselected one of the conduits to selectively prevent material flowthrough the selected one of the conduits.
 15. In an agriculturalimplement adapted for forward movement over soil and having atransversely extending frame, the frame supporting distributing unitsfor delivering one or more materials to the soil, material hopper androuting structure comprising: first and second hoppers, each hoppercontaining material to be delivered to the soil; downstream conduitstructure connected between the hoppers and extending towards thedistributing unit; upstream conduit structure connected to a source ofair and to the first and second hoppers; and valve structure forselecting one of the first and second hoppers for delivery of thematerial to the soil;
 16. The material hopper and routing structure setforth in claim 15 wherein the valve structure comprises an air valveconnected upstream of the first and second hoppers.
 17. The materialhopper and routing structure set forth in claim 15 wherein the valvestructure comprises an air and seed valve connected downstream of thefirst and second hoppers.
 18. The material hopper and routing structureset forth in claim 15 including a hopper conduit structure extendinginto the first and second hoppers, wherein the valve structure includesselectively blockable and unblockable nozzle structure located in thefirst and second hoppers, the nozzle structure facilitating pickup ofmaterial from the hoppers when unblocked and preventing pickup ofmaterial when blocked.
 19. The material hopper and routing structure setforth in claim 15 wherein the valve structure comprises a remotelyoperable valve.
 20. The material hopper and routing structure set forthin claim 19 wherein the remotely operable valve comprises a map-basedswitching valve for automatically changing material flow in accordancewith a map.